Martin Scorsese Explains the Difficulty He Has ‘Trying to Direct’ Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio Together

Martin Scorsese explained “trying” to direct Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro’s performances in Killers of the Flower Moon during a recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Oscar-nominated true crime epic marked Scorsese’s 10th collaboration with De Niro and sixth with DiCaprio. Though both actors are considered Scorsese’s muse at separate points in his career, it’s the first time they’ve worked together with the Goodfellas filmmaker.

Scorsese has previously discussed the differences between De Niro and DiCaprio’s acting styles, admitting they often “roll our eyes” at the younger actor’s indulgences. Speaking to Colbert, Scorsese joked that he often struggled to be heard while working with the two actors.

“I think it's ‘trying to direct,’ as you can see,” Scorsese said when Colbert displayed a photo of the three men. DiCaprio and De Niro are seen in deep conversation, ignoring Scorsese, who is slouched beside them. “They have their own ideas,” the director said frankly.

“The thing with De Niro and Leo,” Scorsese continued, “[is] instinctively they’re the same, but they work outwardly differently. Bob has less talking. Leo likes to talk a great deal. A great deal,” the filmmaker stressed. “Bob is always a little more pulled back.”

“But the two of them together are wonderful,” Scorsese added.

When Colbert concurred that De Niro was difficult to get talking, Scorsese revealed he’s talking now more than ever. “Back in the ‘70s he never spoke. Never,” the director said. “Even at dinner parties. He’d come to a dinner party, he would be there and never say a word. But he was [present].”

Killers of the Flower Moon amassed 10 Oscar nominations, including Scorsese’s 10th Best Director nomination. That makes him the most frequently nominated living director in the history of the Oscars. Lily Gladstone also became the first Native American performer to be nominated in the Best Actress category. The late Robbie Robertson also earned his first Oscar nomination for the film’s score.